While coming to an end of my semester stay in Porto, I was preparing to say goodbye to this beautiful city. I was out of town for Sunday morning shopping at the market, and I bent over to tie my shoelaces. Even though I had heard about the famous São João celebrations and the very famous toy hammer hitting to the head, the toy hammer part was totally out of my mind.
It was at that moment I understood it was São João, when a kid hit me on the head as I bent over to tie my shoelaces.
After Fontainhas, I decided to cover a big part of the Douro coast of Porto. Seeing the vast crowds, all the locals blending with the haze in the streets, felt like one last beautiful look at beloved people, right before saying goodbye.
While the sun was leaving the sky, paper hot air lanterns were rising between the barbecue hazes, taking up the duty of lighting the sky.
For the last six months, Porto has presented itself to me in many seamless ways. I can't forget any of them. But this landscape, lanterns that became stars in the sky, filled with the joy and hope Tripeiros carry... this is how I say goodbye.